Lucille Waters Hamm, of Winter Haven, entered Heaven’s gates on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. She was surely greeted by her parents, her seven siblings, her three late husbands, a son, and a granddaughter who had all gone on before. What a joyous reunion that must have been!
Mrs. Hamm spent her finals days at Good Shepherd Hospice Forsythe House in Auburndale, where her daughter, Patricia Shingleton, son, James Jones, and daughter-in-law, Sue Jones, were able to spend peaceful hours with her. Other family members were able to visit her there and in the Winter Haven Hospital. The family would like to thank everyone who cared for their mother/grandmother during this time, especially the angels at Good Shepherd.
Until the recent illness, Mrs. Hamm was able to remain at home living fairly independently, thus allowing James to fulfill his promise to her that he would keep her in her home as long as he was able.
Although Lucille always used the birthday of September 1, 1922, in an effort to get the proper documents for a photo ID for her, Sue came across a document stating that her birth year may have been 1923! When questioned whether this was correct, Lucille still maintained that she was born in 1922, NOT 1933! Since all her medical and social security records stated she was born in 1922 and there was no family left to verify this, 1922 it is! That’s her story and she stuck to it until her final days!
That being said, Lizzie Lucille Waters was born on September 1, 1922 or 1923 to Dan and Nellie Mae Water in Withlacoochee, Georgia. She was one of eight children. Her father was killed in 1930, leaving her mother to raise her seven living children. An aunt wanted to separate the children but her mother demanded that the family be kept together. At that time, they lived in Lake City, Florida where Lucille’s mother did domestic work to keep her children fed, clothed, and with a roof over their head. It was important to her mother that Lucille and her siblings attend school and attend church.
Lucille married John Brady, when she was in 10th grade. He was killed in Germany in 1944, where he was a member of Patton’s 3rd Army. She was left to raise 2 small children, Linda and Sonny Brady.
In 1947, she married Wilbur Jones, whose cousin was married to her sister, Eleanor. Lucille and Wilbur had two children, Pat and James. In the early 1950’s, the family moved to Winter Haven, where Lucille resided the rest of her days. Wilbur and Lucille and their children were charter members of Parkland Baptist Church. Wilbur passed away in 1965 from heart trouble.
During this time, Lucille returned to high school taking night classes at Winter Haven High School while working at Lakeland Tile Factory during the day. She maintained good grades and especially loved her civics class. She loved a good political “discussion” in her later years and would always cite her civics class to support her views. She was also quick to point out that she did NOT get her GED but her actual high school diploma… complete with a class ring! Although you won’t find her picture in any yearbook, she was probably one of the proudest members of the Winter Haven High School’s Class of 1967!
Having seen all of her children graduate, Lucille married Jodie Ham in 1968. With this marriage she inherited 3 bonus “children”, Betty, Jo Ann, and Joe.
Lucille often stated that God has blessed her with 3 Christian husbands. She also stated that she was proud that all of her children completed high school and all were given the opportunity to further their education.
Before working at Florida Tile Lucille worked at Bordo Citrus. That is where she met Jodie. Lucille loved to do crafts and she and Jodie would work for hours using plastic canvas for various projects. Every drawer, table, cabinet, and closet seemed to hold more and more craft materials – and that is after donating car loads to various nursing homes and the Girls Club! Most of their completed crafts were donated to Meals on Wheels or nursing homes to be shared with others. Every new baby seemed to get a crocheted blanket. Lucille and her sisters and mother would sit around Lucille’s kitchen table laughing, drinking coffee, and sharing patterns until the wee hours of the night. Jodie would urge them to “call it a night”, but he usually lost that argument.
Jodie passed away in 2011, and Lucille remained close to home after that time. She suffered a stroke in January 2012, requiring her to use a walker so she didn’t like to venture from her home. She spent her final years reading her Bible and her devotionals, doing word search puzzles and sitting on her porch, enjoying her flowers, the birds, the butterflies, and her neighbors chickens who visited her most mornings.
Lucille’s biggest dream was for all three of her children to be together one more time. It had been 37 years since this has happened. She was able to realize that dream in June when her daughters surprised her with a visit. This was a wonderful gift for her.
Lucille was predeceased by her parents, Dan and Nellie Mae Waters; her brothers, Dan Waters, John Waters, and Richard Waters; her sisters, Nellie Waters, Julia Crews, Eleanor Jones, and Louise Cumbess; her husbands, John Brady, Wilbur Jones, and Jodie Hamm; her son, John Brady Jr., and her granddaughter, Shannon Jones.
She is survived by her children, James (Sue) Jones of Winter Haven,; Patricia Shingleton of Lake City, Florida; Linda (Terry) Campbell of Littleton, CO; Jo Ann (George) Shaw of Seffner, FL; Betty (Warren) Baucom of Lutz, FL, and Joe (Sharron) Hamm of Odessa, FL.
She is survived by 13 grandchildren – Erin Euverard, Megan Jones, Roger Lee Shingleton, Austin Shingleton, Matthew Hamm, Rebecca Kimmel, Larry Baucom. Walter Bauson, Warren Baucom, Ricky Campbell, and Lee Ann Smith. Lucille is survived by 22 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Ott-Laughlin will be handeling the arrangements and condolences can be left on their website.
The celebration of Lucille’s life will be held at Parkland Baptist Church on Friday, August 2, at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Good Shepherd hospice, 105 Arneson Ave. Auburndale, FL 33823 or the charity of your choice.
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